23 Responses

I don’t suggest using this, because if you want to actually learn more about learning how to use Windows 2012 Server, you want to get your feet in the mud yourself instead of letting someone else automate that process for you.

I want to use it when I’m forced to slamstall a new 2012 box and not in the mood to manual config the gear since I’ve already practiced the beneficial tips of this site but I’m in a hurry for the reasons I can’t anticipate but in dire need of a working WS’d 2012 Server.

This was true before Windows XP, but since Windows XP all versions of Windows have been built on the NT kernel, and so all of them support multiple processors and multiple cores. Server versions may be able to take slightly more advantage of multiple processors, but for the vast majority of things, multiproc/multicore optimizations have to be designed into the applications you install. An app that was designed to run on a single-core, single-proc system is going to run that way no matter what version of windows you’re running.

I didn’t try using the converter, instead I went through all the steps and did it all manually so I’d know what was being changed and the reasoning behind the changes. As for the question someone posted earlier as to why you would want to do this. I can’t speak for everyone, but my reasoning is that I work in I.T. and our shop is going to be migrating our 2003 and 2008r2 servers to 2012 over the next 18 months. So at home I’ve got 2 PC’s I use regularly, one is for my reprap 3D printing hobby (and gaming) and the other is my Media Center PC (HTPC) hooked up in my entertainment center. I installed 2012 on my media center PC, but I wanted it to be functional still as a desktop for watching movies, browsing the web and converting video (PLEX server maybe?)and running Visual Studio, also HyperVisor for testing out other OS’s and builds! By using one of my desktops that I use regularly I’d be forced to start getting comfortable with the newer style interface, begin to learn how to use all the newer features and be able to play with PowerShell 3.0 I also wanted to be able to run SharePoint 2013 in the hypervisor as no one in my department really knows how to set it up and run it and if I can learn it’s ins and outs by setting up my own personal SharePoint server at home then I’ll have better leverage at work to try and get a promotion or move into a better position in a different department that is also interested in SharePoint services. As right now most departments are paying huge amounts of money to contractors to do their Sharepoint configuration and maintenance. The last reason I did this is really just because I’m a geek and it sounded like fun.

I’ve been using the top-end Microsoft server products for my workstations since Win’2000 Adv. Server. The memory manager is second to none, among Windows anyway, and from an engineering standpoint, it has everything you *might* need available at the flip of a switch, and none of the things you may not *ever* want. True, I do have to tweak things just so but I do that anyway with all the versions, more than a few customized versions barely recognizable as Windows.

I design, build, and then hand-tweak every aspect of the computers that I use and they’ve been workstation-grade since the mid-80’s. When you are constantly setting up (alpha/beta) hardware/software test-rigs, simulating networks, and especially testing security scenarios, almost always to destruction, does it make sense to try to wrap Windows 7, 8, or a low-end server product with all the restrictions or just simply set a nice baseline for a machine that does what you want, when you want, and especially how you want? Virtualization has always been my friend, especially that pesky to destruction outcome.

If you are serious about hardware and software testing another important component is have a large collection of images and installation media on tap. Yes, you can have a stack of DVD’s if time isn’t a consideration or even HD-based images. Far better to take advantage of the new dedupe feature for your library of image files as well as golden VM VHD’s. Takes it a while to get it all munched down if you keep the machine busy but it’s a nice feature all by its lonesome. Just don’t expect it to work on active files/images ;-).

I think this line of server products is almost “just right.” Now back to the dungeon…

Are you kidding ? / how do you burn CD’s and DVD’s in 2012 / Its easier than hell, what kind of struggles are you having trying to hackstall your Roxio 1 from Windows 95 onto Windows7.

Your 2012 box includes cdburn.exe, dvdburn.exe, isoburn.exe.
You can download those files in the 2003 resource kit since you probably deleted them along with everything else that makes your box crash for half the day

you can download LightingUK’s imgburn.exe, its free, it installs and works without a reboot since your shell challenged

Do you have a working 14400 modem line in that martian cave you’ve been living on with your hands over your ears ?

Hey wise guy! How about this?! My server is not recognizing any CD/DVD burners (external or internal). Everything I’ve read suggests that this has to do with the fact that Server 2012 disables access to removable devices. I have not found any info explaining how to re-enable them (at least not anything that worked). I’ve tried every imaginable setting in the local and domain security policy settings. I can’t get any flash drives to work either. They are being recognized in the device manager but I can’t see them in the Computer or even the Disk Management snap-in. The external DVD burner and the flash drives work fine on a Win 7 system so I know there is nothing wrong with them. Instead of posting snarky remarks, perhaps you can point me in the right direction. I have tried isoburn but it doesn’t see any burners on the system so there.

hi ph0enix, that’s a strange problem…! The only thing I can currently think of is that there is no drive letter getting assigned to your devices. Can you see the devices in Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc)? In that case you can right click the volume and choose ‘Change Drive Letter and Paths’. In case Disk Management also doesn’t show anything, you can use the commandline to see if driver letters are getting assigned. Open cmd.exe and enter the ‘diskpart’ command. In diskpart enter the ‘list volume’ command to see all volumes including their drive letters assigned. See the Microsoft TechNet article about dispart for more info about this tool.

Hey Arris.
Thanks for your response and suggestions!
I can’t see the drives in the Disk Management snap-in. diskpart is doesn’t show them either.

When I connect the external one drive, I hear the usual chime that plays when a new device is connected and if I have the Device Manager open at the time, the list of hardware refreshes but nothing is added to it. I’m starting to wonder if this is a driver a issue but neither of the internal drives works either.